KUHNS: SWAMP RABBITS SIGN CHRIS IZMIRLIAN
Top-caliber forward joins Swamp Rabbits roster
BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have announced that Chris Izmirlian has signed a pro contract to join the team for the 2018–19 season. The high-flying playmaker will add a strong offensive presence to the attack for the upcoming season.
The 2017–18 season saw Izmirlian make three pro stops, including the Knoxville Ice Bears, the Macon Mayhem, and the Quad City Mallards. In 25 games at the SPHL level, Izmirlian added eight goals and 22 assists, good for 30 points, and then racked up 17 points in 36 games for the Quad City Mallards at the ECHL level.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to Greenville, and extremely excited to get the opportunity to play under coach Kerr again,” Izmirlian said. “I know he’s going to do everything he can to make the team extremely competitive, and I want to do everything I can to make this team a contender this season.”
His short stint in Macon saw him be named Player of the Week once after a seven-point outburst, and at the time of his loan to Quad City on January 17, he led SPHL rookies in assists and point scoring, and also ranked third in overall assists and sixth in overall point scoring in the SPHL. Izmirlian was a mainstay on the Mallards’ penalty kill upon his transition to the ECHL level, immediately improving that mark right after his arrival.
“I had Chris in Macon last year. He’s a very skilled, fearless player that the fans are really going to like,” said head coach Kevin Kerr. “He’s got a great hockey IQ, great skill, and he’s another guy that who is really excited about coming here to Greenville. He’s very versatile, and can play all positions up front, and can add some secondary scoring to our lineup.”
“He’s a fearless, competitive kid who isn’t a fighter, but he’s not afraid either.”
The 25-year-old played his college hockey at Yale University, played in 110 games, and notched 40 points. He showed his responsibility by only being nabbed for only 50 penalty minutes in his collegiate career, and was a +17. Even more staggering, Izmirlian only racked up four penalty minutes in 25 games at the SPHL level, and just six penalty minutes in 36 games at the ECHL level.
The Swamp Rabbits have signed 21 players for the upcoming season. The full list can be found below, or on the offseason player tracker at SwampRabbits.com.
Forwards (12): Chris Izmirlian, Jarrid Privitera, Dylan Vander Esch, Stephen Pierog, Austen Brassard, Mike Pelech, Travis Howe, Alex Globke, Timmy Moore, Will Merchant, J.T. Henke and Johno May.
Defensemen (7): Chad Duchesne, Luke Ripley, Kyle Chatham, J.C. Brassard, Trevor Owens, Jake Bolton and Sean Flanagan.
Goaltenders (2): Garrett Bartus and Devin Buffalo.
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